Week of March 4, 2007

Publishers are going crazy releasing all these screenshots, especially with GDC in full swing. We've got screenshots of five different games here in this post, so get ready.

Legend: Hand of God for the PC

The Sims 2 Seasons for the PC




Red Ocean for the PC




Codename Panzers: Cold War for the PC




SKATE for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Codemasters Online Gaming are today pleased to announce that Rising Force Online, an MMOG with an epic mix of traditional fantasy and futuristic sci-fi action has been in operation for 12 months.

Launched throughout North America and Europe on 21st and 24th February respectively, RF Online has gone from strength to strength witnessing major updates & expansions along the way such as the awesome ‘Giga Final Part 1’, including breathtaking battle dungeons and other associated high level content, as well as the much anticipated ‘Giga Final Part 2’ which introduced the impressive Guild Vs Guild battles and the Elan Plateau, an awesome new area for all players to explore.

Would you like a FREE item…?

To celebrate its 1st full year of operation, Codemasters Online Gaming are planning to offer all long term players of RF Online, The Pioneer's Sword - a sword that allows players to increase their characters speed.

Over the coming months, RF Online will witness a surge of updates as Episode II Part 1 goes into test and prepares for launch onto the live service.

“We are really looking forward to the launch of Episode II Part 1. Our brand new website design coupled with all these FREE major updates we have on the horizon are very encouraging . This is a positive time for RF Online and we look forward to many more updates over the next 12 months,” says Codemasters Online Gaming Product Marketing Manager, Adam McGowan.

Ascaron has announced on their website that Track Mania United should be on UK store shelves today, as well as digital download. They mention that the official website for Paradise City is now online.

It's a Super Mario love-fest today, as we have new images of Super Paper Mario and Super Mario Galaxy. While Super Paper Mario is due out next month, Super Mario Galaxy does not have a release date. Both are for the Wii

Hot off the NCsoft press comes eleven new images of Richard Garriott's new MMORPG Tabula Rasa, a sci-fi MMO set for a Fall Release.

NCsoft released another batch of screenshots showing off Lineage 2- The Chaotic Throne: Interlude.

Publisher Strategy First Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings, Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSTR), and Nobilis Group announced today that “Great Invasions” has gone gold in North America. The Historical real-time strategy title “Great Invasions,” is due to be in stores across North America this March, 2007.

Another Stuff! pack is on the way for The Sims 2, this time labeled as Celebration Stuff! We've got ten new images of all the... stuff.

Electronic Arts sends word that the Battlefield 2142: Northern Strike booster pack is now available via their EA Link.

Sony Computer Entertainment America dropped a couple of big surprises for owners of the PlayStation 3 at this year's Game Developer's Conference.

The first is LittleBigPlanet, a community-based online game for the PlayStation 3. Players meet on a blue and green planet scattered with individual plots – and use their character’s amazing abilities to play, create and share what they build with other gamers throughout the world via PLAYSTATION®Network.

The second welcomed news item is in regards to Home, "a first-of-its-kind 3D online user community service known as “Home,” [which] will enable users to create their own avatar and explore a real-time virtual community, as if they are playing a detailed 3D game for PS3."

Avatar Reality, Inc., a new development entity dedicated to the advancement of online community building, today announced that they will become the first company to license Crytek’s new game middleware, CryENGINE™2, for use in creating their recently announced massively multiplayer virtual world (MMVW). Set in Terraformed Mars, Avatar Reality’s MMVW will allow players to live their fantasy lives by creating personalized characters, or avatars, in a beautiful environment.

“CryENGINE2 is able to render the most beautiful images, in real-time, that I’ve ever seen in my 20 years in the computer graphics industry,” said Kazuyuki Hashimoto, president of Avatar Reality, Inc. ”We are certain that the quality of these stunning, realistic images stemmed from the technology and not just talented artists. After viewing the images, there is no question that CryENGINE2 is the perfect engine for us to use to build our massively multiplayer virtual world.”

First demonstrated to the public today at The Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, CryENGINE2 provides multiple state-of-the-art features including a next- generation real-time renderer, multi-threaded physics engine, character animation system, integrated WYSIWYP sandbox editor, sound editor with interactive dynamic sound system, advanced AI system, resource compiler and a network client and server system.

“We are very proud to have been chosen as a technology partner for Avatar Reality,” said Cevat Yerli, president and CEO of Crytek. “They possess creativity and talent that is extremely rare for our industry and combining that with our technology, we are sure that the new MMVW will be a huge success!”

Eidos sent out nine new images of World Forge's historical RTS Ancient Wars: Sparta for the PC.

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and Slitherine Strategies (www.slitherine.com) are pleased to announce that Legion Arena Gold is now available for purchase. Building off of the success from their individual releases, Legion Arena Gold combines the original real time strategy/role playing smash hit Legion Arena with its popular expansion pack, Cult of Mithras into one “Gold” pack.

Legion Arena Gold is an addicting blend of real time strategy with role playing. As the commander-in-chief of an ancient army, the player uses their tactical prowess to win battles on a 3D real time field and then use the experience and spoils of war to build a small band of warriors into the mightiest army in the ancient world.

Some features of Legion Arena Gold include:

* Buy equipment and choose their skills. Over 100 skills to choose from!
* Personalise the appearance of each squad by selecting their textures
* Command vast armies in epic 3D battles
* Earn experience and denari for your victories
* Two campaign paths - play as Romans or Gauls. Get drawn into the story of the rise of Rome.
* Over 20 unique unit types including Legionaries, Praetorians, Elephants and Naked Fanatics which can battle each other over the course of more than 100 scenarios
* Special effects including water, particles, lighting & night battles, weather and grass
* Detailed combat model designed by a double world wargaming champion.
* Deploy your troops and issue orders before battle.
* Real time control in battle using our innovative order time system
* Every unit has strengths and weaknesses. Learn how to use your strengths and exploit your enemies weaknesses.
* Real terrain effects - cavalry are weaker in woods, light infantry are weaker in the open.
* Easy to learn, hard to master.

NCsoft was kind enough to send over a dozen new screenshots of Auto Assault, Update 4. The screenshots show off what to expect from the free content update.

EA released three new screenshots of their RTS Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, due out soon on the PC and Xbox 360.

Deep Silver released a series of screenshots showing off the morphing ability of the player's character.

Apparently Commodore has been waiting for just the right moment to make a comeback. That time is 2007:

Commodore Gaming today announces that CeBIT 2007 will see the launch of a new breed of gaming PC as the legendary Commodore brand returns to the world of computer and video games hardware with the highest specifications available for gamers.

The new range of optimised Gaming PCs will be launched at the CeBIT show in Hannover, Germany, on 15th March, offering people the chance to play the high performance purpose-built machines with the latest PC games.

Determined to mentally enslave all children around the world... Now LEGO will throw in it's two cents into the MMO arena.

The LEGO(R) Group today announced it has commenced a working relationship with NetDevil(R) to develop a massively multiplayer online gaming experience to further engage its dedicated and active community.

"As children around the world continue to spend more time online, we are developing new and engaging ways for them to interact with our brand," said Lisbeth Valther Pallesen, Executive Vice President, Community, Education and Direct Division LEGO Group. "The LEGO brand represents construction, creativity and problem solving -- values that complement the MMOG market. By merging the online world of social interaction with physical play, the LEGO brand is providing new experiences for children, as well as fans. NetDevil's technological capability, openness to work with a large community, and enthusiasm for the LEGO brand make them a natural partner."

"Playing with LEGO bricks and developing online worlds are both creative activities. To bring them together is deeply professionally satisfying and we look forward to working with the LEGO team," said Scott Brown, president of NetDevil.

JoWood sends word that the website for Spellforce 2 is now online.

Dragon Storm, the addon that is much sought after by Spellforce fans, celebrates the most fascinating race ever! Dragons enter the beautiful world of the popular genre mix. On
www.spellforce2.com you will find all information, screenshots, trailer for SpellForce 2 - Dragon Storm.

SpellForce 2 – Dragon Storm will be available in stores at the end of March 07 for PC DVD !

HONOR THE LEGACY OF OUR BLOOD!

The magical portals, the only links between the shattered islands of Eo, are losing their powers! On a dangerous mission to save them, the Shaikan discover the ruins of an ancient culture that once carried incredible power: The Shapers. Two of them survived the war, which had brought an end to their dominion, in an ageless slumber - but now one of them has been awakened! His power, born of magic believed lost, threatens Eo like no other enemy before… but there are hints of a lordly race, thought to have died out long ago, and with these hints comes hope for powerful allies: Dragons!

Seamless blend of role-playing action & real-time strategy:

* Continuation of the legendary story in an exciting campaign with spectacular new landscapes, with more than 30 hours of playing time!

* More RPG-experience through special hero-quests: the companions of your Avatar open quests that will provide them with additional abilities.

* A consistent world: players will also visit familiar cities from SpellForce 2, where massive changes are taking place – never before has an RTS been so capable of telling a continuous story!

* Command the additional Shaikan faction with its mighty Dragon titan!

* An expanded skill tree offers the new Shaikan section for even more customized hero development.

* Units of the Shaikan can choose between several upgrades allowing you to adapt them to your tactics.

* Summoning magic allows you to conjure loyal companion animals!

* Choose from hundreds of new equipment items, and create powerful crafted set items!

* New maps for the free multiplayer mode: face the most legendary warriors in the Arena Quest!

* Measure your group of heroes against those of other players in skirmish mode in the Fortress of Decision.

Today Nintendo adds three new classic games to the popular Wii(TM) video game system's Wii Shop Channel. The games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time.
Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points(TM) to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

Several patches and demos have been released this week. Here's a breakdown of what came out:

Patches